NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Ranking the Top Andrew Luck Contenders

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is, at this writing, the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. While the rhyming phrase "Suck for Luck" has been part of the football lexicon all season long, it's clear that no team is willing to tank their entire year for an unproven rookie quarterback who can only fix a single aspect of their game.

However, some team is going to end up with the league's worst record and thus the No. 1 pick, and that team will ostensibly spend that pick on Luck.

Who are these teams? Find out in the following four slides, which are also accompanied by my full 32-team power rankings for Week 12.

Indianapolis Colts (0-10)

The Indianapolis Colts clearly have the best chance to end up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, with an 0-10 record and dim prospects to turn their year around enough to save their season. They're also a great fit for Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

The Colts starting quarterback, Peyton Manning, is potentially out for the entire season after undergoing a number of neck surgeries. While his playing status for 2012 is up in the air, it's more than possible he will take the field again.

But Manning is aging, and those neck surgeries will certainly catch up to him. Having a solid developmental quarterback shores up the position for years to come, and to have Luck learning behind one of the game's greatest passers should only serve to improve his skills, as well as provide much-needed insurance should Manning get hurt again.

Washington Redskins (3-7)

Regardless of the Washington Redskins' ultimate draft position in 2012, one thing is clear: They desperately need a franchise quarterback, and there's no better way to acquire one worthy of development than via the draft.

The team has lost their last six in a row, and with an extremely tough schedule ahead that has them playing the likes of the New England Patriots and New York Giants, they don't appear to have much of a chance to notch many more wins.

While Washington has a number of issues that has seen them reach quite close to the very bottom of the power rankings, weakness at quarterback is a major problem that needs an immediate solution.

Andrew Luck is easily one player who can fill that hole, and should they wind up with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, they'd be well served to snag him.

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)

While the Jacksonville Jaguars just drafted a quarterback in 2011, Blaine Gabbert has proven that he's not yet ready to lead the team's offense.

Though not all of that is Gabbert's fault and he should find a way to improve with a second season, it's not out of the question that if Jacksonville ended up with the No. 1 overall pick that they would use it to draft Stanford's Andrew Luck.

At quarterback, the Jaguars need a true starter and clear leader, and Luck could provide them with just that. Gabbert is certainly a workable option, but he's not the best the Jaguars can do.

If they have the opportunity to upgrade, they should take it.

St. Louis Rams (2-8)

Though the Carolina Panthers are also 2-8 on the year, the fact that they have the very promising and exciting Cam Newton already starting at quarterback makes it seem highly unlikely they'd use the No. 1 overall 2012 draft pick on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

The St. Louis Rams, however, have reason to nab him even though they've got the most outside chance of being willing to do so among the four teams detailed in this slideshow.

They already have a young starter under center, Sam Bradford, and as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, he did not see the contract restrictions imposed on the 2011 draft class.

That means the Rams would be eating a lot of money to keep Bradford and add Luck, but with the way the second-year quarterback has performed this year, it might behoove the team to add some significant insurance behind him.

Full 32-Team Power Ranking for Week 12

NFL Power Rankings, Week 12*
 
1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Houston Texans
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. New England Patriots
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Chicago Bears
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Cincinnati Bengals
11. Atlanta Falcons
12. Detroit Lions
13. Oakland Raiders
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. New York Giants
16. New York Jets
17. Miami Dolphins
18. Seattle Seahawks
19. Buffalo Bills
20. Denver Broncos
21. San Diego Chargers
22. Tennessee Titans
23. Kansas City Chiefs
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
25. Philadelphia Eagles
26. Arizona Cardinals
27. Cleveland Browns
28. Minnesota Vikings
29. Washington Redskins
30. Carolina Panthers
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Indianapolis Colts

*Subject to change pending outcome of Monday night's Patriots-Chiefs contest